Lacing-hook.



F. A. HERRICK.

LCING HOOK.

APPucATxoH msu MAR. 19. i917.

i nNTTEn sTaTEs PATENT oEEioE v:infinit A. HEEEICK, orL TOLEDO, onto, 'AssIGNoETo TEE HEEEICKMANUEACTEING ooMPANY, 'or TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION.

racimo-Hook.

TQJaZZ whom it may concern.'

4Beit known that I, FRANK A. HERRICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the kcounty of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in La`cing-Hooks; vand l do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact ldescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it=appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and gures of reference. marked thereon, which forma part of this specification.

The advantages of shoe-lacing hooks'as commonly employed on mens shoes are well understood, and it is well known that but for certain objections these advantages would be available for womens shoes. Theseobjections are that the points of the hooks catch in the edges and trimmings of skirts and petticoats and that these garments are soon frayed and damaged by frequent engagement with the hooks. Many devices have been produced seeking to overcome these objections, but thus far the proposed devices have failed tocome integeneral use because of their lack of stability, their 'complicated nature, and their initial expense. The object of my invention is to overcome the objections and diliiculties here indicated. More particularly,-my invention is designed to furnish a cheap, simple and durable lacinghook consisting of but two parts, which hook when engaged with a shoe-lace shall present no projecting points; which when disengaged from the shoe-lace shall invariably remain open ready for the reception of the lace, and which shall not require any manipulation to prepare the hook for the reception of the lace or to release the shoe-lace.

To these ends my device consists of the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a front perspective view of a series of my lacing-hooks upon a shoe and engaged withshoe-laces; Fig. 2, a central vertical sectional elevation of my device in open position, ready for the reception of a shoe-lace; Fig. 3, the same with the hook secured upon a shoe and in closed position as when engaged with a shoe-lace, and Fig.

Specification of Lettersi'Pate'nt.

ratenteanemis, 1917.

Application mea March 19, 1917. serial No. 155,639.

rim 2 is extended as an arm 3 which is y curved outwardly, upwardly and backwardly, as atV a, and thence projects forwardly so that the end of the arm 3. overhangs'` the opposite side of the rimf The arm 3 is also slightly outwardly bowed transversely. The space between the tip of the arm 3 and the rim 2 constitutes a jaw into which av shoe-lace may be slipped sidewise, inthe usual manner. Across the arm 3, near its outer extremity, is a slot 5.

Resting loosely in this. slot is a flat strip of metal `6, the inner end of which is curved, as at 7, to conform to the inside of the curve jl in thefarm '3. Thence forwardly thestrip 6 projects in approximately a straight line, as at 8, to the bend or elbow 9 from whence the strip extends, at nearlyna right angle, inapproximately a straight line, to its tip 10. Shoulders 6a formed in the yopposite edges of the strip 6, between the bends v and 9, limit the outward longitudinal-fmovement of the strip orlatch 6 through the slot 5. VThe `bend 9 is made in the metal after the strip is inserted into the opening` 5, since after the `bend 9 is made the strip can not be removed.

The eyelet being engaged with the leather in the usual manner as illustrated in Figs. l and 3, the metal tongue or latch 6 is capable of two movements, viz. first, it `may swing in the slot 5 as upon a pivot, and, second, it may be projected and retracted longitudinally, so that when it is retracted the tip 10 will be elevated as in Fig. 2, and when it is projected the tip will rest upon the shoe at the edge of the ring 2, as in Fig. 3.

Assuming that two series of these shoelace hooks are applied to the opposed margins of a shoe-opening, as illustrated in Fig.

shoe-lace strikes the latch between the bends 7 and 9 which lifts the latch, causing it to slide upwardly and outwardly until the shoulders 6a come in contact with the sides of the slot 5. This 'movement causes the latch to tilt forwardly so that the point l0 rests against the top of the shoe while the heel of the latch, formed by the curve 7, rests snugly in and in engagement with the curve il, in the arm 3, where it is held by the pressure of the shoe-lace as well as by the clasp of the curve. It will be seen that now the extremities of the arm 3 and of the latch 6 are so guarded that they can not engage any lace or other fabric which may be brought in contact with them, and that the point l0 cannot be tilted upwardly until the withdrawal of the shoe-lace causes the latch to slide inwardly and out of engagement with the bend 4.

lWhen it is desired to unlace the shoe, the lace is drawn out sidewise, in the usual manner, causing a reverse ot the movements of the latch above described, the point 10 tilting upwardly, the latch sliding backwardly and the outer side of the bend 7 coming in contact with the point 7a, at the base of the bend a. Now a pressure in any direction upon the point lO'will not move the latch, for the reason that the contact of the latch at the point 7a and with the side of the slot 5 locks the latch against a pivotal movement without which there can be no longitudinal movement of the latch. Thus it will be seen that when the shoe-lace is withdrawn the latch is invariably opened and held in open position, for it is only when the shoe-lace strikes the inner side of the curve 7 that the inner end ot the latch is lifted out of contact with the point 7 so that the latch is permitted to slide outwardly and into closed position as above described.

It will be seen that by reason of the peculiar and novel conformation of the arm 3 and the latch 6, all pivots or other` parts save the eyelet and the latch are dispensed with, and that the device is so Simplified that it will stand great strain and wear without getting out of order.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In al device of the described character, an eyelet having one side of its rim extended as an overhanging arm, there being a transverse slot in said arm near its outer extremity, a metal strip extending through said slot to form a latch, said latch being pivotally and longitudinally movable in said slot and having shoulders which limit its outward longitudinal movement, the inner end of said latch being at its inner end capable of engagement, in retracted position, with the base of said arm, the outer portion of said latch being capa-ble in extended-pd sition ot closing the jaw between the outer extremity oli' said arm and thetop of the eyelet.

2. A lacing-hook comprising an eyelet having integral with its rim an overhanging arm, the space vbetween the outer extremity of the arm and the top of the'eyelet forming a jaw for the reception of a shoelace, and a latch pivotally and reciprocably movable upon said arm to open and to close said jaw, and adapted to engage said arm to hold the latch in open position and to engage said arm to hold the latch in closed position.

' In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses. Y

FRANK A. HERRICK.

Witnesses GERTRUDE BRACKEB, JOHN H. JAMESON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner o1' Patents. Washington, D. C. 

